The Third Station

An Interior Pilgrimage with The Interior Liturgy…

3. The 3rd Station of the Interior Liturgy: the Station of Mercy.

Our Petition: “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”
The sacrament of the 3rd Station is Reconciliation, which brings us the forgiveness and the mercy of Christ.Meditation:
God’s mercy is infinite! Yet even God is resisted by a hardened and unforgiving heart. The infinite mercy of God “cannot penetrate our hearts as long as we have not forgiven those who have trespassed against us. Love, like the Body of Christ, is indivisible; we cannot love the God we cannot see if we do not love the brother or sister we do see. In refusing to forgive our brothers and sisters, our hearts are closed and their hardness makes them impervious to the Father’s merciful love; but in confessing our sins, our hearts are opened to his grace.” (CCC 2840) Will the liturgy stop here, because of my hardened heart?

Responsory:

Verse: So if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. (Mt 5:23-24)Response:Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.

Verse: For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Mt 6:14-15)Response:Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.

Verse: And when they came to the place which is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. (Lk 23:33-34)Response:Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.

Prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
(pause)
Lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
Amen.

Following the 3rd Station,
at this close of the 1st Movement,
please have an extended time of silence and waiting upon the Lord.
We are moving from the pilgrimage of discipleship– in the Liturgy of the Word –
– to the altar of self-offering –
the Liturgy of Consecration at the Altar.

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Responses

Dear Thomas,

Today’s 3rd station is so important; it is right to pause and take an extended period of time to be silent and wait. I cannot make a “self-offering” to the Lord if I do not forgive. Jesus tells us in Mt 5: 23 -24:

“Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”

I need to make the effort to be reconciled; even if the other chooses not to be reconciled. I can by God’s grace forgive all, and receive God’s forgiveness and then offer myself.

God willing, I will proceed to the 4th station, grateful for the gift of God’s forgiveness and mercy in the sacrament of Reconciliation; grateful also even before receiving the sacrament, when I experience His Love urging me to forgive and seek the forgiveness of others.